Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 728: The Substitute Takes the Fall

It was getting cold?

This is the capital, Yongan City, of the Central Continent Empire. Here, the seasons don't change, and even if a natural disaster were to strike, the protective formations ensure it's always spring.

Even if we go to the bitterly cold North Continent, would it be enough to make Xu Peng sneeze?

Xu Peng was a Golden Core Realm demon cultivator, his true form being that of a Peng, with blood as vigorous as the blazing sun. How could a mere chill affect him?

Something was very wrong.

The Fourth Princess glanced at Xu Peng and gently nodded. "You... must be about to undergo a tribulation, or perhaps a sickness tribulation. Such tribulations can be easy or difficult to overcome. Go back and rest well. If you leave this tribulation with lasting sickness, you may never reach the Nascent Soul Realm."

Xu Peng's face turned pale. He wasn't prepared at all, and now this calamity had suddenly arrived?

"Gai Wu, Xu Peng... How did their tribulations happen to come at the same time? Are they both experiencing tribulations simultaneously?"

Everyone exchanged looks, each seeing a trace of doubt in the others' eyes.

Something was very wrong, extremely wrong.

Chen Mang's expression grew serious, and he immediately ordered, "Everyone, take these two back to their chambers to rest and recover. You two should also inform the people in your residence to help you face the tribulation. While outsiders can't do much to help with the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, they can still offer some small assistance."

Gai Wu and Xu Peng nodded repeatedly. In the face of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, they dared not be careless. No matter a cultivator's background, all are equal before these tribulations.@@@@

However, that's not entirely the case. If they possess treasures like the Vast Origin Fruit or the Three Solar Fruit, the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations could be much easier to endure.

Just as their friends were about to get up to see them off, a sudden thunderous boom came from the sky. A flash of blood-red lightning streaked across. Then, a terrifying, destructive aura descended as if divine punishment was about to rain down on everyone.

"Lightning Calamity?!" shouted someone in alarm.

The blood-red lightning signified the Lightning Calamity, one of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. It was distinct from the Lightning Tribulation and even more so from the Heavenly Tribulation. While all three involve the power of thunder, they weren’t exactly the same. They each had their key differences.

The Lightning Calamity, for instance, didn’t take lives, but it can strike people into a state of idiocy. How long someone remained in such a state depended on their ability to endure the calamity. It could range from a few days to forever.

Hong Xian furrowed his brows, feeling that this situation was tricky. "Is it really his Lightning Calamity?"

If Ji Liang were affected by this Lightning Calamity, would the Ninth Generation King from the West Continent hold him accountable?

He could only look toward the Fourth Princess, seeking her guidance.

"Fourth Sister, I am not afraid of this calamity," Ji Liang said, looking at the Fourth Princess.

The Fourth Princess nodded slightly and gestured to Hong Xian with a nod.

Upon receiving the signal, Hong Xian immediately retrieved a special token, which shimmered with divine light. He began channeling his spiritual energy into the token. In an instant, the protective force entangled with the Lightning Calamity in the sky vanished without a trace, allowing the lightning to descend straight toward Ji Liang.

Everyone quickly retreated to a safe distance, even Chen Mang, a figure of considerable strength, stepped back to stand beside the Fourth Princess, maintaining a cautious distance from Ji Liang.

"Brother Ji Liang, be careful! If this hits you, you might end up a fool!" someone shouted out in concern.

Ji Liang's face remained emotionless as he suddenly waved his sleeve. A puppet appeared, rapidly growing in size as it flew toward the Lightning Calamity. In an instant, the puppet transformed into an exact replica of Ji Liang, like a twin brother.

Boom!

The puppet was struck by the Lightning Calamity and crashed heavily to the ground, wisps of smoke rising from its body. With that, the calamity dissipated, and the heavens returned to calm.

The crowd was stunned, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.

What kind of technique was this? A puppet could substitute for someone facing a calamity? They had never heard of such a method!

After successfully avoiding the calamity, Ji Liang's aura became somewhat ethereal, as if he was on the verge of ascending to immortality at any moment. This was the sign of a full Core and overflowing soul. He was about to condense his Nascent Soul!

"This technique... It’s quite interesting," Fang Chen remarked as he looked at the puppet.

He could sense a strong presence of karma emanating from it, as if the puppet had absorbed a large portion of Ji Liang's karmic burden, substituting for him in facing the calamity.

Ji Liang gazed at the puppet for a long time, then sighed, "This puppet is a rare treasure I acquired by chance. It can protect its master by facing calamities in their stead. It was refined by ancient masters of great skill. However, once it's used, it's gone. I originally planned to save it for the Nine Tribulations after the Three Calamities, but I had no choice as this disaster came too suddenly. What a pity... what a pity."